8. New IIA Chief Executive to drive Internet use

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Joan Mulvihill has been appointed Chief Executive of the Irish Internet Association (IIA) and plans to drive greater internet capabilities within Ireland to exploit new home and export market opportunities.

A former senior manager in the family business division of BDO Simpson Xavier, the accountancy and business advisory firm, she also has commercial experience in London and Amsterdam. She is a former executive with the Kingfisher Group and led one of the first transitions of a major UK retailer from the high street to online. She has also acted as a consultant to a number of business start-ups in Ireland.

Setting out her vision for the IIA, she stated: “As Ireland aspires to a smart economy, it’s vital that the necessary supports are available to business owners, in terms of infrastructure, investment and expertise. The Internet brings so much opportunity for cost saving, process efficiency and customer care – way beyond simply having a website. As a Smart Economy, Irish businesses can and will be at the forefront of innovation and optimisation of internet usage.”

Joan added that the IIA is unique among Irish business associations in that it offers all companies the opportunity to network across sectors and scale. The IIA has more than 550 company memberships and its working groups are dealing with a range of significant issues of importance to the sector. These include a group on cloud computing, under the chair of Gerry Power of Sysco, and the User Experience Working Group, chaired by AMAS Director Fiachra Ó Marcaigh.

Back to contents of State of the Net issue 15